Mesothelioma Cancer Hub

Cancer in cells of linings of certain parts especially Chest and Abdomen.

Layer of specialized cells found in outer layers of most internal organs mostly chest or abdomen.

Contains mesothelium for protecting organs.

Mesothelium is a special lubricating fluid to allow organ to move.

• Mesothelium in Chest - Pleura
• Mesothelium in Abdomen - Peritoneum
• Mesothelium in heart - Pericardium

Malignant Mesothelioma:
Cancerous tumours of mesothelioma results in Malignant Mesothelioma.

Classification:

i) Based on Area affected:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma:
- Affects Chest
- Causes Pleural Effusion in chest

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma:
- Affects abdomen.
- Causes Peritoneal Effusion in Abdomen

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma:

ii) Based on Cell Arrangement:

1. Epitheliod
2. Sacromatoid
3. Mixed
4. Dermoplastic

Causes of Mesothelioma:

1. Asbestos:
- Main cause due to exposure in workplace.
Types:
It is of two types namely
1. Serpentine fibres(Chrysotile)
- easy to remove from lungs.
2. Amphiboles
- hard to remove from lungs.
- Causes Cancer.

2. Zeolites:
- It is a type of Silicate minerals.
- Responsible for high Mesothelioma rates in Turkey.

3. Radiation:
- Radiation treatment also increases the risk of mesothelioma in patients.

4. SV40 Virus:
- Simian Virus 40 increase risk of developing mesothelioma.

Symptoms:

1. Symptoms for Pleural Mesothelioma:
- shortness of breath
- pain in lower back/side of chest
- cough and fever
- sweating
- fatigue
- Weight loss
- trouble in swallowing

2. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma:
- abdominal pain
- swelling (or) fluid in abdomen
- Weight loss
- Nausea
- vomiting

Treatment:

1.Surgery:
- Objective is to cure cancer or relieve pain caused by humans.

i) Surgery for Pleural Mesothelioma:

a. Extra Pleural pneumonectomy(EFP):
- To remove affected linings of lungs as well as affected parts of lungs itself.
- Very difficult operation.
- Carried out by Surgeons in large hospitals.
- Done on patients with resectable mesothelioma of epithelioid type.

b. Pleurectomy:
- Less extensive operation.
- Only affected linings of lungs are removed.
- No part of lungs is removed.

c. Debulking:
- To remove as much as mesothelioma.

ii) Peritoneal Mesothelioma:

a. Debulking:
- Remove as much as mesothelioma.

b. Omentectomy:
- To remove Omentum (fatty tissues over contents of abdomen).

2. Radiation Therapy:
- To kill small deposits of cancer.

i) Extreme Beam Radiation Therapy(EBRT):
- Use of X-rays to kill cancer cells.
IMRT (Intensity modulated radiation therapy):
- 3D computerised radiation therapy

ii) Brachytherapy:
- Radiation Source is placed inside the affected part of the body.
- Rarely used.

3. Chemotheraphy:
- Treatment with anti-cancer drugs.
- Drugs used include Gemcitabine, Carboplatin, etc.